Cleaning equipment



Feb. 1, 1944.

c. M. CAIN 2,340,365

CLEANING EQUIPMENT.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1940 INVENTOR I A yzesfer M. (o/nATTOI'QNEY Feb. 1, 1944. Q c 2,340,365-

CLEANING EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR QresferM. (a/h. B

ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,340,365CLEANING EQUIPMENT Chester M. Cain, Amarillo, Tex.

Application August 12,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning equipment, and more particularly tocombined washing and wringing devices for treating, cleaning, andpolishing elements, such as chamois and the like cloths, which aresometimes employed for cleaning Windshields and polishing car bodies inautomobile service stations, the principal objects of the inventionbeing to provide a convenient, relatively economical and highlyefficient apparatus of the character noted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a self-contained washingand wringing device in which the wringing device is motor driven; toprovide for energizing the wringing elements of the device at such timesas it is desired that the apparatus be operated; to so arrange theapparatus that it may be operated by the foot of the operator, thusleaving the hands of the operator free to manipulate devices beingwashed and wrung; to provide a unit that is attractive in appearance andthat is readily portable for facilitating the service of cars inaservice station; to preclude wrapping of the cleaned and wrung devicesabout the wringing elements of the apparatus; to provide for presentingthe wrung cleaning devices in convenient relation to the apparatus forfacilitating handling thereof by an operator; to provide for encasingthe driving parts or elements of the apparatus relative to the wring-.ing elements of the apparatus; to provide for adjusting the wringing andwrapping precluding elements of the apparatus; to provide for servicingthe driving elements of the apparatus; and to provide improved elementsand arrangements thereof in cleaning equipment apparatus of thecharacter and for the purposes noted.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of cleaning equipment embodying thevention.

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical cross section through the switch and/orcontrol element for energizing and rile-energizing the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical substantially central cross-sectionthrough cleaning equipment embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical transverse section through cleaningequipment embodying this invention substantially on the line 4-4, Fig.3.

features of the present in- 1940, Serial No. 352,259

Fig.5 is a plan View of the cleaning equipment c t d at 25, Fig. 3, andterminates in a embodying this invention, shown in horizontal sectiontrate its construction.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view tern for energizing present cleaningequipment.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I generally designates cleaning equipment embodying the presentinvention, which preferably consists of a horizontally arranged baseplate 2 that is preferably provided with swivelled casters or the like 3at the corners and on the bottom surface thereof.

An end wall l is vertically arranged adjacent the end 5 of the baseplate, the end wall preferably being of a width less than the Width ofthe base plate toprovide platforms or ledges 6 and 'l atopposite sidesof the base plate. sidewalls 8 and 9 extend from the side edges of theend wall 4 forwardly approximately to the end Ill of thebase plate andterminate in inwardly directed flanges H and ii that are preferably ofless length or height than the end wall 4. The lower edges of the sideand end walls are turned inwardly to provide supporting flanges l3, l4and I5 that may be suitably secured to the base plate 2 in order to forma rigid to more clearly illusof awiring systo overlie the flanges H andthe panel and flanges apertures for receiving fastening which the panell2 of the side walls,

It may be removably secured to theside walls and form an enclosure orcompartment [8 within the walls.

A bottom forming plate IQ for a tank generally designated 20 ishorizontally arranged between the end and side walls 4, 8 and 9, theplate if! provided with a downwardlypreferably being turned flange 2|that is suitably secured, as by welding, to the side and end walls abovenoted.

The plate I9 is also preferably arranged approxiplane of the panel l6and within the flanges II and I2 of the side walls to form an end wall22.

for the tank 20.

The upper portion of opposite wall for the tank, and the upper poretions of the side walls 8 and fl form the side walls for the tank 20.The end wall 22 of the tank'is also curved rearwardly, preferably atapproxie mately the upper end of the flanges I l and I2, as

prefparts thereof being the driving elements of the mounting for thewalls. It designates a panel that is of a size and shapebeing providedwith aligned devices ll by the end wall mm the erably downwardly andbackwardly turned lip 26 adjacent one end of the tank.

The upper edges of the side and end walls of the tank are preferablyrolled outwardly, as indicated at 21, to provide a relatively blunt edgeto protect operators working about the apparatus and enhance theappearance of the equipment.

With the construction thus far described, it is apparent that equipmentis provided that includes a lower accessible compartment l8 and an uppersubstantially open tank 29.

It is contemplated that water or other cleaning liquid 30 is to besupplied the tank 20 to a suitable level and a drain opening 3| isprovided in the bottom wall l9 of the tank which opens into an outletduct 32 arranged in the compartment l8 and extending through the bottomwall thereof, as at 33, for disposing of liquids in the tank, a suitableplug or discharge control 34 being provided for that purpose.

The bearing blocks 35 and 36 comprise side flanges 40 and M at theirupper ends, the outer edges of the side flanges being connected by a web42 to form channels 43 for slidably mounting approximate surface,contact therewith.

Assuming that cleaning devices such as ois skins or cloths have beenwashed in the tank 20, it is contemplated A belt 56 that is mounted onthe pulley 55 connects with a pulley 51 that is preferably of reducedsize, the pulley 57 being mounted at one end 58 of a drive arranged inand pro- Jecting from the cabinet or compartment l8. The

that they be wrung out by which constitutes relation thereto as byfastening devices II. 7

When a service station attendant, for example,

compartment 18 to a switch 14. V y

The switch 7d preferably comprises a housing having bearing bosses thatare secured to the base plate 2 as by a fastening device 16, one of theledges 6 and? of the base plate being a d mirably suited for thispurpose. An insulated contact I? is mounted in one of the walls of theswitch housing and is arranged for electrical connection with the line73, as indicated at 18. A spring switch element 19 on the ing. Thecontact'tiii is connected, as at 8|, with the terminal of a currentconducting the other lead-in line wiring system for energizing the motor59.

In order to complete a circuit between the switch elements is and at,the 33 of the chamois skins after liquids from them. The

fits thereabout; the

met and tank Iormingwalls of the equipment, as by fastening devices 9.7,welding. or thelike.

depression of which forces the head of the rod' 85 into engagement withthe contact 19 to spring the contact into current conducting engagementwith the contact 80 and complete the circuit through the lines 13 and 82to the motor.

The motor lead-in line l2 being connected with a source of currentsupply, the motor is energized to rotate the pulley El and through thebelt 66 rotate the pulley 65. The shaft 59 is thus rotated to cause thepulley 51 to move the belt 56 and rotate the pulley 55 which rotates thewringer roller 39. Frictional engagement between the wringer roller 39,the chamois skin and the wringer roller 41 causes the chamois skin to berolled through between the wringer rollers and wrung out to asubstantially dry condition. The tendency of the chamois skin to stickto the wringer roller 41 and wind upon the same is overcome by the platethe lower edge of which separates the chamois skin from the roller 41and allows the same to drop upon the platform 92. As a matter ofpractice, more than one chamois skin or the like may be wrung out andchamois skins succeeding the first may be left upon the platform 92 in aconvenient position to be picked up by the operator when the firstchamois skin has become soiled.

If two or more skins are wrung out together, it is sometimes desirableto adjust the wringer rollers vertically relative to each other in whichcase the adjusting device 59 may be manipulated to raise the wringerroller 41 relative to the roller 39 and provide more space between therollers through which the chamois skins may more easily pass. When thechamois skins have served their purpose, they may be returned to thetank for rewashing and reuse as and when desired. 5 It is apparent,therefore, that the present invention provides a convenient, economicaland. eflicient cleaning apparatus that is attractive in appearance,easily moved from place to place, readily manipulated, simple inconstruction and easily accessible for necessary repairs.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In cleaning equipment of the character described, a tank having sideand end walls, one of said walls having an inwardly turned upper edge,wringing apparatus mounted on said tank, and a platform arrangedadjacent said wringing apparatus for receiving devices wrung thereby, anedge of said platform being arranged adjacent the inwardly turned upperedge of the wall of said tank to form a limited space to allowapplication of devices to be cleaned to the tank.

2. In cleaning equipment of the character described, a base plate,connected side walls and an end wall arranged in vertical relation tosaid base plate, a horizontal partition arranged intermediately theheight of said side and end walls to define a compartment, a panelremovably mounted on said base plate and side walls to provide access tosaid compartment and forming another end wall, and an extension on saidhorizontal partition having an inwardly curved upper end cooperativewith said partition and walls to form a tank.

3. In cleaning equipment of the character described, a base plate, wallsarranged in vertical relation to said base plate, certain of said wallshaving inturned flanges, a horizontal partition arranged intermediatelyof the height of said walls to define a compartment, and an extension onsaid horizontal partition having an inwardly curved upper endcooperative with the inturned flanges on the walls to form a tank.

CHESTER. M. CAIN.

